Improved pavement



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WlLLlAM H. SHUli-TLEFF, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND. i Leiters Patent No. 61,958, dated Fabrump'g/ 12, 1867.

IMPaovsD PAvEMrNrr TOWHOM IT MAY CONCERN: i

Bc it known that I, WILLIAM HENRY SHURTLEFF, of Providence, in the county of Providence, and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful improvements in colnbined Wood and Iron Pavements; andl hereby declare thet'ollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in wliich- Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of a paving block constructed in accordance with my invention. Figures 2 and 3 are like sections of the wooden block and iron cap, detached from each other; and Figure 4 is a top view of the iron cap. The chief objection to the use of a'pavement or carriage-way made entirely of either iron or wood is, in thel former case, that while the iron resists the wear, and is not .materially aiected by the travel over it, it at the same time affords but an insecure footing for horses; and in the latter case, that the wood, although horses are less liable to slip upon it, nevertheless wears away rapidly and requires to'be frequently renewed.

The object of my invention is to combine in a pavement the excellences of both the wood and iron, avoiding at the same time the defects which resultfrom the exclusive employment of either, and to this end it ccnsists essentially in applying to a wooden block of suitable form a metal cap or frame whose top is composed of wedge-shaped bars arranged toform an opening or `lattice-work, so that when the said cap is fitted over and driven down upon the wooden block the wood shall be forced up into the interstic'es or openings between the bars and thus form a paving block, the surface of which is composed of wood, surrounded and divided up by and wedged in a net-work of iron.

This methedof combining the wood and iron presents many and important advantages. The two materials are intimately and closely intermingled, so that while the wood affords a firm footing for the horse or other animal passing over it,- the iron will prevent the wood from becoming rapidly worn. The blocks are also dis tinct and separate, as much so as ordinary paving stones, and thus if at any time portions of the road become worn or injured the blocks may be replaced and the road repaired with perfect ease.

In fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings is represented a plan or topview of the cap or frame which'I it over and drive into the wooden block c, iig'. 2. It is composed of a frame, a, of any shape desired or required by the shape of the block c, the top of which is formed of the bars Z1, arranged in any manner, but so es to leave between them openings into which `the wood is forced, when the cap and block c are ttcd together? The bars are Wedge-shaped, as shown in fig'. 3, their lower ends forming cutting edges which facilitate their entrance into the wood. The frame a'which surrounds the bars extends some distance below them in order that the wood may be com-pressed and prevented from splitting when the wedges b are forced into it. The cap a iits over the top ofv the block c'so that its side shall be flush with the sides of the block, and thus admit of the paving blocks being set closely and firmly together. In order to form the paving block the cap a, iig. 3, is fitted over the block e, fig. 2, and then is driven down uponit, the wedge-shaped bars entering the wooduntil the top of the cap is flush with the surface of the block, the wood being forced into and tightly wedged in the openings between the iron bars b, as seen clearly in tig. l, while the-side a, extending some distance below the bars Z1, compresses the Wood and ei'ectually prevents it from splitting under the action of the wedges. t In this vmanner I am able to effect a complete intermingling of the two materials, and to form a paving block in which are combined the two requisites ofl safety and durability. Thewood may be of any length and siz'e that is deemed mst desirs able, and the iron 'is cast with the bars or grating on top of any desired form, the only essential feature of the block being thev intimate mixture or mingling of the iron with the wood, and the compression of the latter within the iron frame, so that the wear of the wood shall not be in excess of that of the iron, but both materials shall at all times present an even and uniformsurfaca Having described my invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be carried into elfect, what I claim, and desire to sccurc'by'Letters Patent,'is i 1. A paving block, composed of wood, and iron or other suitable metal, combined and applied to each other, substantially as shown andset forth. V

2. `The combination, with a wooden block of suitable form, of a skeleton or openework metal cup or frame applied to the said block in such manner that the iibres ofthe wood shall be compressed `between the sides of and forced up into the openings in the top ofthe said cap or frame, substantially as shown and described.

3. The skeleton or open-Workmetal cap for paving block herein described, thesame consisting of a. frame of iron or other like material, the sides of which extend a suitable distance below the bars forming the top of the frame, the said bars being Wedge-shaped or tapering towards their lower ends,` and arranged so as to form a grating or lattice-Work, substantially as and for the purposes shown and set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification before two subscribing witnesses.,

WM. H. SHURTLEFF. Witnesses:V

CHARLES J. SWEET, J. HAnADoN PECK. 

